Skip to main content

Jenna Innes - Born in Aberdeen, Made to Perform

Jenna Innes, born in Aberdeen, made to perform. She is a youth theatre actress turned West End performer! 

When Jenna left school she went to work, full time, for Aberdeen City Council. 3 years later, in 2015, she made the life changing decision to audition for drama school and moved to London to start training at the prestigious performing arts school, MTA. Since graduating, Jenna has notable credits in the industry. In 2018 Jenna performed in the Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre Pantomime as Snow White before going on to join the cast of Les Miserable in London’s West End as understudy Eponine. Jenna’s most recent endeavour is with the currently touring production of Les Miserables where she holds the same role.


Jenna told us that the best part of her current job is; “Doing something I love every day, enjoying the work and working with a huge team of talented people”
The professional performing industry is notoriously cut throat and ruthless, Jenna told us that the worst part is; “The stressful audition process that took months and the waiting for weeks to be told yes or no.”
What advice would you give to someone who would like to get into the creative industries based on your own personal experiences?
"It is extremely difficult and the competition is fierce, so my advice to anyone considering this career, I would really think about it, think about the long term not the short term. The rejection is every day and you have to have an extremely sturdy opinion of yourself. In saying that, if you do think it’s for you I say you have to work at it constantly and work extremely hard because there will always be someone out there rehearsing more than you. Be kind and polite to people and be true to yourself! Don't try and fit into what you think they want, it'll only work against you. Be you!"

Some useful links to further your reading:
Les Miserables Tour: https://www.lesmis.com/uk-ireland-tour/tour-dates
The MTA: http://www.themta.co.uk
Working as an performer: https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/performance

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rhonda Scott - The Scott School of Singing

Careers in the creative industries can come in many shapes and forms. Rhonda Scott is a premium example of how you can take things you love and make a living out of them. After leaving school in S5, Rhonda went to study Music Education with Drama at Aberdeen University. Whilst studying she also obtained her performance diploma in both piano and singing. In 1984, Rhonda started teaching music in secondary schools as well as being involved in many youth theatre projects. In 1995 Rhonda founded Ragamuffins and Leading Lights theatre groups, while also working for Aberdeen Youth Music Theatre (AYMT) as a musical director/choreographer. Continuing to teach in schools until August 2007, Rhonda decided to branch off and start up her own singing school. The Scott School of Singing, is where Rhonda and an array of other singing teachers from across Aberdeen teach and inspire people to peruse their talents in the creative arts!  Rhonda told us that the best part of her job is...

Shirley McGill - The McGill School of Speech and Drama

Shirley is a fantastic ambassador to the creative arts and their integration into young people’s lives.  Soon after leaving school, Shirley obtained a Bachelor of Education as well as studying Speech and Drama and gaining her Licentiate with Guildhall School. While working as a primary school teacher Shirley also taught speech and drama privately. After working as a teacher in schools for four years, eventually it got to the point where Shirley had to chose between one or the other. Time did not allow both and in 1992 the McGill School of Speech and Drama was founded! While teaching speech and drama through her own business, Shirley was asked to join Aberdeen Youth Music Theatre (AYMT) as their director.  When Shirley joined, the group was only three years into existence and had just 30 members.  Since then, it has grown to over 160 members with three sections; juniors, intermediates and seniors, all of which produce their own, independent shows. Shir...

Andy Milarvie - Developing the Creative Skills and Talents of Young People

While still at school, Andy took part in Glasgow School's Youth Theatre as well as performing with Scottish Youth Theatre. After finishing school, he attended Fife College where he completed their 1 Year Theatre Studies Diploma Course. From here, Andy gained a place at R.S.A.M.D (now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) where he obtained their 3-year acting diploma.  Andy was then taken on by a London agent and had a 15-year acting career working on stage, in television and also theatre in education.  Following these 15 years as an actor, Andy decided to go back to university where he did a 1 year conversion course to turn his acting diploma into a degree. This was followed by a further year gaining his PGDE teaching in Drama.  Fresh out of Edinburgh University, Andy moved to Aberdeen and completed his Drama teaching probation year at Aberdeen Grammar School before moving to Robert Gordon’s College (RGC) in 2008 as a Teacher of Drama. A year later, Andy...